Tag Archives: Sant Singh Maskeen

Daas was blessed by a Singh yesterday with the seva of translating the famous Maskeen Sahib Ji’s lecture on Kaam, in which he talks on the topic of Charitropakyaan and the relevance of it (And Sri Dasam Granth Sahib Ji) in a Sikh’s jeevan. It certainly helped me to understand the philosophy behind Charitars in a different light. It is hoped that this translation will prove helpful for others too, and perhaps also as a reference for all the Guru Pyaare Gursikhs who do their best to defend the honour of Dasam Pita Ji’s Bani. Please please please accept my sincerest apologies for making all the mistakes in this text. i would also like to apologise for skipping few minutes of audio from the original clip, the portions which i thought are recaps and summaries of things already discussed.

There are many topics in Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj that remain untouched and unexplored by religious scholars and kathavachaks because of different reasons. One reason is that sometimes it is difficult to understand and grasp the meanings. Another reason could be that sometimes one does not feel like talking about/discussing it. Yet another reason could be that maybe society and social order will not be able to tolerate it if discussed. But all of these three reasons should not be considered when truth has to be discussed.

ਕਲਿ ਕਲਵਾਲੀ ਕਾਮੁ ਮਦੁ ਮਨੂਆ ਪੀਵਣਹਾਰੁ ॥
kal kalavaalee kaam madh manooaa peevanehaar ||
The Dark Age of Kali Yuga is the vessel, filled with the wine of sexual desire; the mind is the drunkard.

The reason of discussing this subject (about Sri Dasam Granth Sahib Ji) is because there is a lot of questions and objections being raised against Sri Dasam Granth Sahib Ji, be it India or Abroad. These if-and-buts are being voiced by people who claim to be researchers and learned people, yet have absolutely no knowledge about Sikh history.

There were 52 poets in the court of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib Ji Maharaj’s court, each specialising in different genres of poetry. Some created poems in Comic/satirical form (Haas-Rass), some were experienced in writing soft poems creating atmosphere of peace (Shaant-Rass), and some were well versed with writing poems full of fighting spirit and fearlessness (Bir-Rass), and there were other poets who had the gift of writing about physical beauty (Shingaar-Rass), which includes everything related to Kaam-Rass.

There is only one form of energy given to human beings. The great religious figures of India including Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Guru Arjan Dev Ji and Kabir Ji have all called that energy ‘Kaam’. If this Kaam-Rass is not converted into Naam-Rass, then it (Kaam) will offshoot into other evils (vikaars) like Greed (Lobh), Ego (Ahankaar), and Desire (Vaashna). The examples of such transformations of Kaam-Rass can be seen all around us. Since energy within increases with every day that passes, which means kaam increases and as a result, greed, ego and desires will also increase. That is why it is Kaam that is also greed, ego and desire – Kaam-Lobh, Kaam-Ahankaar, and Kaam-Vaashna. And if this energy remains in its original form, it will also transform into Anger (Krodh). Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj says:

Such energy will melt the precious life away because Kaam once converted into Anger (Krodh), a raging fire that will burn down all the angelic and pure qualities within. 90% of the people that create havoc on this planet are the ones in whom Kaam has transformed into anger. In such people, Kaam-Lobh, Kaam-Ahankaar, and Kaam-Vaashna has remained unsatisfied and that is why Kaam takes the form of Anger (Kaam-Krodh).

The energy (Kaam-Rass) can be put to constructive use if one is able to convert it into Raam-Rass, Naam-Rass. Nature does not want that this energy transforms into greed. If that happens, seeds of stealing will germinate in such a person. If Kaam has transformed into anger, then lots of head will fall as a result. The more egoistic and angry a person, the more he denies the existence of Akal Purakh. However, this Kaam energy should be transformed into Kaam-Vaashna so that process of giving birth could be initiated, so that a new creation (and in him/her, the Creator) can be born.

Without meditation (Japp), this Kaam energy will not rise upwards in positive direction. Once that happen, this very energy will now transform into kindness (Dyaa), knowledge, art, science and eventually will become Naam-Rass. A sick, helpless person cannot be angry or cruel and at that same time cannot meditate either because there is no energy left within that could be transformed into any of the above. One needs energy to earn money and one also needs energy to earn Naam. A child is born out of extra energy within and Naam-Rass is born out of the extra energy too. Just as one needs food for the body in different stages of life, be it childhood, youth or old age, similarly there is an equal need of the soul for meditation and Naam-Rass. The food given to a small child is in the slow stage of transformation into Kaam-Rass, albeit not in explicitly visible form at this stage – that Kaam energy will surface in the youth and will last till the last days of life. If a person in his/her youth is not able to convert the Kaam-Rass into Naam-Rass, then he/she will remain a Kaami right down to the ripe old age.

ਤੁਮ ਕਹੀਅਤ ਹੌ ਜਗਤ ਗੁਰ ਸੁਆਮੀ ॥
thum keheeath ha jagath gur suaamee ||
You are called the Lord and Master, the Guru of the World.

One gets born with Kaam, lives life in kaam, and dies full of kaam-rass. Since Kaam-Vaashna remains within at the time of death, a new cycle of rebirth starts. If one is born out of kaam, lives a small portion of life in kaam, but dies filled with Naam-Rass, such a person will be able to break the cycle of rebirth because there no Kaam-Vaashna remained within. This person will submerge in and become one with Akal Purakh.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji says, this world is a seller of wine, the intoxication:

ਕਲਿ ਕਲਵਾਲੀ ਕਾਮੁ ਮਦੁ ਮਨੂਆ ਪੀਵਣਹਾਰੁ ॥
kal kalavaalee kaam madh manooaa peevanehaar ||
The Dark Age of Kali Yuga is the vessel, filled with the wine of sexual desire; the mind is the drunkard.

The intoxication of that wine is Kaam. Why did Guru Nanak Dev Ji use wine as a reference to kaam? Wine is a drug that destroys one’s intellect and the ability to reason. Anyone who lives all the 8 pehars of a day wisely and thoughtfully will not be affected by Kaam-Vaashna. However, no matter how wise a person may be, once wine goes inside, it affects everybody and destroys the power to think and rationalise. One can dive inside water for 5 or 10 minutes, not forever, because unlike fish, it is not in the nature of human beings to be remain submerged in water. Still, one can still dive in for short amounts of time but eventually will have to come out on the surface. Similarly, in anger, ego or desire, one dives in deep below the surface of intellect and reason. In any of these states, there is a complete absence of reasoning as intellect would not have let it happen in the first place. However, in Naam-Rass, one completely rises above and beyond the levels of intelligence, soaring to levels where grasps of reasoning and logic cannot come close. Sadly, what has happened instead is Kaam-Rass has become a part of our thoughts and remembrances, which should not have happened. The only thing that should remain in our thoughts is Akal Purakh Waheguru; kaam must remain confined to the boundaries of the body and not penetrate and take over our mind. It (kaam) was meant to be for the fulfillment of physical needs, to give birth, but instead it has taken over the mind and thoughts are now all full of kaam. And if it is always revolving in one’s thoughts and becomes a part of the lifestyle, it will surely force towards wrongdoings. Unsatisfied kaam will transform into anger which will be reflected from such a person’s face. This cup of anger is served by one’s ego.

These issues of kaam are discussed by Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj in Sri Dasam Granth Sahib Ji under the chapter ‘Charitropakhyaan’, which is being criticised by the nindaks of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. They seem to forget that males and females both have their own characteristics – Excess levels of kaam will do nothing but bring out these characteristic. Similarly, excess levels of Kaam-Vaashna will force a male to perform immoral acts. Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj Ji clearly wrote about these characteristics and traits, now people have been objecting and saying it (Charitropakhyaan) cannot be Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s bani. If one can gather the courage to not acknowledge it as Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s bani, then one day such ignorant fools can turn around and say the same about the above bani of Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj. Then, such fools can also start saying the following cannot have been said by Guru Nanak Dev Ji:

Actually the thing is, ignorant people go in the state of denial if a certain concept or thought does not align with their own thinking. Who to tell them they do not possess the levels of understanding and thinking required to able to understand such concepts. The reason such people feel hatred is because of the hatred present within them, that weakness still exists within them.

A saint never kills a theif, it is the thieves who fight amongst themselves and destroy each other. A thug will hit another thug as a saint will never even dream of doing such a thing. If we look closely at their behavior, we can see that it is jealousy and hatred towards their fellow thieves and thugs who, unlike them, have been able to make it big in their ‘professions’. A saint, on the other hand, never retaliates in hatred towards such people. The purpose of a saint is to change the rotten mindsets of lost people instead.

Once Rishi Vyaas was travelling in a boat on the river Ganges; He had long hair knotted up on the top of his head, and had a long free flowing beard. A few young people sitting on the same boat started teasing them. The rishi said nothing. Seeing that their taunts had no desired effect, they start splashing icy cold water from the river on him. A voice from rishi’s soul rose: “You tolerated all the abuse these guys threw at you, but now they have physically started abusing by splashing cold water on you, I will have to do something. If you say, I can turn the whole boat upside down”. The rishi folded both his hands and said,” What good would turning the boat upside down do? If you have to do something, why don’t you turn thinking downside up instead?” Thus, a saint has never hit or damaged an evil person.

There is no distance separating poison and Amrit. Or one can say it like this: A poison can be turned into Amrit and vice-versa. The juice of grapes or sugarcanes is nectar but if we ferment it, the same nectar turns into wine, a poison. Poison is bitter, by fermentation the same sweet tasting nectar gets transformed into bitter, foul poison. The very products that were being the support elements of life – Grapes, sugarcane (sugar), oranges, etc – are now being used to destroy lives.

Sankheeya, a type of stone, is essentially a poison but Ayurvedic Vaids destroy it and turn it into something called Kushtaa, a form of medicine that is used to cure hundreds of various ailments. Similarly, snake’s poison is used in various medicines to cure people. Thus, a poison when carefully used can turn into pure nectar and conversely, if Amrit is misused, it can turn into poison. [Maskeen Ji narrates a personal story where one of his friends helped revive his badly sore throat by giving a small dose of Kushtaa, which was once a Sankhee (poison)]. Renowned poet Dr. Mohd. Iqbal describes this in his own unique style as –

Jo Zehar-e-halaa Hall hai wohi amrit hai naadaan,

Maaloom nahi tujh ko yeh hein andaaz peene kay.

If one has learnt the art of living, it is amrit otherwise that same life is nothing but poison. Similarly, if one knows the right use of materials and money, they are amrit; if not, the same money and materials will prove to be poison. Anyone who puts his/her own life to wrong use and purpose will not use anything else wisely and in right matter. People who have put their lives on wrong tracks will perhaps even interpret Gurbani in wrong way by doing terribly wrong translations and explanations. Maybe such people will also misuse Guruji’s Baana, Gurughars, Guruji’s panth and philosophy. By constant wrong-doings, everything will start turning into poison while right and just actions will turn everything into amrit. Some people, by constant negative actions, have made their homes pure hell, while there are others, who (by constant remembrance and love for Akal Purakh) have turned their homes into blissful heaven. The literal meaning of the word ‘Swarag’ (heaven) as written by the writer of the book, Saar Kitaavali:

He says, heaven is a home where there are obedient children, husband and wife standing on the same platform of similar interests and philosophy of life, money to provide necessities of life and contentment in hearts. That is what real heaven is.

One thing is clear: man has made a lot of progress in creating new breeds of animals and vegetation. There are cows that give more milk than ever before, pigs, dogs that are of higher quality breeds. Similarly, there are better seeds for different crops being developed and the yield of crops has substantially increased compared to that in past. However, it is also very clear that the kind of human being born in the present day and age are worse than ever before. Man has put all the efforts in creating and improving breeds of animals and vegetable yet has completely ignored to improve on his own self. Everything around us is evolving into something better, it is just children that are heading towards negative side and that is simply because parents have not put any effort into shaping them into better human beings.

From a religious standpoint, Baba Prithi Chand and Ram Rai were not bad people. Ram Rai had obtained Sidhhi and as such was a sidhh person who showed 72 different miracles to Aurangzeb. There are still a lot of followers of ram rai in the U.P. state of India, known as Ramraayiye. Since he performed miracles to create his own influence, he became arrogant as a result. Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji Maharaj forbade Sikhs to have any dealings with him from then on. Similarly, Prithi Chand was also a Sidhh but became selfish; he had Jahangir under his influence, which in turn was using him for his own purposes. Although he was not a bad person, yet his arrogance took over his senses and refused to acknowledge his younger brother, Guru Arjan Dev Ji, as the Guru. The same arrogance hit Baba ram rai when five and half years old Guru Harkrishan ji was appointed the next Guruji. Even though he was a Sidhh, he misused his spiritual powers just like Durbhasha, a Sidhh who put his powers to wrong use by cursing the whole family of Krishna.

Thus, although man has great powers and has concentrated his efforts on creating and developing better varities of animals and vegeatables, sadly no effort has been made in cultivating children into better adults. The whole effort is directed towards earning more money, building better houses, buying new products while children, who are the real treasure, are completely neglected. If we imitate the west for raising children, they will go out of control and in wrong directions. The west, being a capitalistic society, concentrates on wealth and ignores children and that is why the whole of Europe and America has gone spiritually corrupt and family life has pretty much become non-existent.

Coming back to the topic in question: If one can discuss and give expositions topics like anger, ego, desires, etc then why should we remain quiet when it comes to ‘forbidden’ topics? If we do, we will not be able to fully comprehend and remain under the influence of ignorance. If there is anger within, then we must understand it. If there is greed within, then we must try to understand its nature. Similarly, there is kaam within all of us, then we must make efforts to try to understand its nature and characteristics in order to properly utilise it

In India, there once lived a rishi called ‘Vatsayan’, he authored a book called ‘Kaam Sutra’ – the knowledge of Kaam. In it, he explicitly makes the claim that those who have no knowledge of kaam can have no understanding and knowledge of Ram. And he also says in the same book that anyone who is not able to rise above the levels of Kaam-Rass will never be able to reach and find Naam-Rass.

There is a about 18 temples in India that are known as the ‘Temples of Khajuraho’. These 18 temples are spread in about 20 square miles of land in a small place called Khajuraho. Although the total population of Khajuraho is about 19,000, there is a big airport which connects all the major cities of India to that place. In addition, there are regular bus services and other means of transport to these temples. Thousands of tourists and Indians travel from far and wide to see these temples. [Maskeen Ji says he had read about these temples and also a report by Gandhi recommending that these temples be razed to the ground because they depict sexuality and thus are immoral.] Everywhere one sees in and around these snatanee temple are statues of people engaged in various kaamic activities and nothing else. That is the only thing that people from all around the world come to see, even to this day. Such statues can also be seen at Jaganath Puri and Konark. These temples were built by religious rishis and saints of those times which strikes as surprising because it is not something one expects to see at religious places. Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj had also visited the temples at Jaganath Puri and Konark. The religious ceremonies are not held in the temples of Khajuraho anymore, and tourists can be seen looking at the exteriors than interiors because it is the exteriors that have the kaamic statues, while inside there is a lone figure of either Shiva or another Hindu deity.

While researching about these temples, one thing struck Maskeen Ji. [He says] Life is a temple and on the exterior levels, there is nothing but kaam while Akal Purakh resides inside. Guru Arjan Dev Ji Maharaj says:

Akal Purakh resides within, while all that is outside is Kaam. Since Kaam energy is nothing but dust, a kaami person will eventually become a part of dust. One can ask the question, how does kaam equals dust? Well, from dust came food (vegetables, etc), from food came blood, and from blood came Bindh (that creates), from that Bindh, a child (of flesh) is born, which eventually becomes dust again. Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj explains it as follows:

ਪਾਨੀ ਮੈਲਾ ਮਾਟੀ ਗੋਰੀ ॥
paanee mailaa maattee goree ||
The water of the sperm is cloudy, and the egg of the ovary is crimson.

In this human body, there are some elements that are masculine in nature and others that are feminine. It is through the union of male and female a child is born, and thus has elements of both of them in him/her. Guru Nanak Dev Ji expresses it as:

Those who consider them learned and big researchers, they should also understand this tukk. There is no such female that has no elements of male characteristics in her and similarly, there is no such man that has no female elements in him. The only reason a male has become a male is because the male elements in him are in majority as compared to the female elements. Similarly, a woman is a woman because the female elements in her are in majority in comparison to male elements. Thus, there is an incomplete father within a woman and an incomplete mother within a man. An incomplete mother wants to be complete, that is why a mother feels more attached to the male child than the girl child. Similarly, a male’s bonding and attachment is with the female child than the male child. Guru Nanak Dev Ji clarifies this thought:

There are many areas that have not been explored, and when Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj explains them in Sri Dasam Granth Sahib Ji, many fools have got up and have started creating unnecessary commotion within Sikh Panth. They ask, “Is it appropriate to read Triya Charitars?” Of course, but also read the description of characters of males as told to us by Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib Ji Maharaj in Hiqayats. The corruption of mindset of both male and female and the combination of these mindsets will bring about such disastrous consequences. If a child has turned out to be bad, then it is the bad parents that are responsible, at least they were bad at that particular moment when that child’s existence happened. Such parents may have corrected themselves, but surely they must have had bad qualities earlier when the child was conceived. [Maskeen Ji humbly apologies if he has hurt anyone with the ‘harsh’ words he said, although that was not his intention].

Significance of the love for Baani and Baana:

One has to connect with Gurbani and its message first, Guruji’s Baana will happen effortlessly. If one has tasted the Amrit of Gurbani, it is needless to say such a person will surely get connected to Khandeh Baatay Da Amrit. It is useless to force someone who hasn’t connected with Bani to get the blessings of Amrit as he/she will end up drinking (or do anything against rehat) and will bring bad name to the data of Amrit and to Guru’s Bani and Bana. Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj never forced anyone to take amrit. He had asked for a head, someone willing to give his/her head to Guruji without asking any questions. Thus, bless only those with Amrit who have real yearning for it, someone who has understood Guruji’s philosophy and is willing to give his/her head to Guruji without any doubts or questions. Bhai Dya Ram (later Bhai Dya Singh), on Gurujis call had said, “Guruji, this head became yours the day we bowed it down in your feet, so what’s the hesitation in giving something that belongs to you in the first place?” Such people, who had that kind of pyaar for Guruji, were given the daat of Amrit. That is why, our efforts should be towards understanding the bani, and explaining the meanings and jinx of it to others so that the love for Guruji could develop and thirst for Amrit will automatically take place within them. Such people will get chopped to bits but will never let anyone spoil Guruji’s Baana. Therefore, we must not take the power of Gurbani lightly. Bhai Santokh Ji says the Bani of Dhan Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj is the mother of all the bani of all the philosophies and understand of God as found in all the dharma granths of this world.

It is commonly observed in Indian society that male child is preferred by parents and the society in general while this decision should be left to Akal Purakh to decide. This favourism is also observed at orphanages where childless couples go to get a child to adopt, its boys that get most easily adopted. This is unlike in the west where a girl is favoured in place of boys. This is because they know girls are sensitive to other’s needs and feelings while guys live on the levels of logic and start questioning everything. If a father sits and contemplates on his grown up children as to who has remembered him with greater fondness and affection, he will find it will his daughter who has shown more honest love and care towards him than the son. Guru Nanak Dev Ji, in the above tukk, tells us exactly that. If one looks at the other aspect now, we can see it’s the son that is more close to his mother while father and son falling out with each other is a common observation in many families. In situations where father and son end up in fierce arguments, mother is always seen supporting her son.

These are physiological aspects – a man is incomplete in every woman, and a woman remains incomplete in every man. The very word ‘Ardhaangini’ which is now used for wife is composed of two different words – Ardh (half) and Ang (body part) – meaning she is incomplete without the male counterpart. It certainly did not mean ‘Wife’ like today. That incomplete part within a woman wants to be complete and that is why there is an attraction for males in her heart. Similarly, the incomplete woman inside a man wants to be complete and thus, his attraction for women. To repeat what Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj says:

That is why even the biggest of saints is incomplete, as almost half of his self is an incomplete woman wanting to be complete. If someone does not consume the right food in the right manner, he/she will be forced to eat wrong food in a wrong fashion. Bhagat Kabir Ji says:

ਜਗ ਮਹਿ ਬਕਤੇ ਦੂਧਾਧਾਰੀ ॥
jag mehi bakathae dhoodhhaadhhaaree ||
Those who claim in this world that they live on milk alone,

Bhagat Kabir Ji says people who claim they have so much self restraint that they can exist just by consuming milk are nothing but lairs as these very people gulp loads and loads of food in secret and in a wrong fashion. Those who do not satisfy the basic needs of a Grahist Jeevan in a proper and dignified manner will end up satisfying those needs from outside with inappropriate ways. So why not do it within the laws of nature, of society and spiritually elevated people? One has learnt the proper way to cook, unlike animals who also eat but do not know how to cook. Similarly animals have not been able to create and adapt to the proper and lawful ways of Grahist Jeevan with which a human being (should) lives. In animal world, concept of relationships like uncles and aunts is non-existent. There is always an attraction for the opposite sex because the incomplete part within wants to be complete. To validate the way in which this need is fulfilled, stamp of approval has to come from Gurmat in the form of four lavaans with Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj as the vichola (middleman).

Coming back to the topic, if saints feel the need to have water and food, then surely kaamic activity is also a need of the body. Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj does not agree that this activity can be given up.

No one can refrain themselves from kaam, although one cannot know if somebody does it in secret and in unlawful ways. Thus, this energy is required for the creation of new lives but excess Kaam-Rass will offshoot into Kaam-Krodh, Kaam-Lobh, and Kaam-Vaashna. That is why, one has to transform this energy upwards in the positive direction so that Kundalini can rise and break the chakars, eventually resulting in Naam-Rass. (Please do read “Kundalini Surjee Satsangat” by Gyani Ji for more in-depth veechar on this subject here – link: http://www.sikhsanga…h-ji-maskeen/).

This topic (of kaam) has remained untouched and objections have been raised [against Maskeen Ji] for raising this topic. Well, if that is the case, then first one should tell Guru Arjan Dev Ji Maharaj to not discuss it, who say in Sahahskriti Sloks:

First stop the Gurujis and Saints who do not hesitate to discuss this important subject and then we will stop. The great Rishi Vatsayan wrote “kama sutra” and Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj did the translation of that book in Sri Dasam Granth Ji. 90% of the Bani of Sri Dasam Granth Ji is the translation of old granths because in those days, Brahmins used to educate other fellow Brahmins about the granths of India and no one else. As a result people belonging to other castes used to remain deprived of the material and the Sanskrit content written in those granths. Also, these crooked Brahmins used to twist and turn the meanings of the scriptures to please the listener. That is why, Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj himself created the teeka, the translation of these scriptures. He declares:

ਦਸਮ ਕਥਾ ਭਾਗਉਤ ਕੀ ਭਾਖਾ ਕਰੀ ਬਨਾਇ ॥ ਅਵਰ ਬਾਸਨਾ ਨਾਹਿ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਧਰਮ ਜੁੱਧ ਕੇ ਚਾਇ ॥੨੪੯੧॥
Dasam kathaa Bhaagaddd kibhaakhaa karibanaae|| Avar baasnaa naah(i) prabh dharam juddh ke chaae||2491||
I have composed the discourse of the tenth part (Skandh) of Bhagavat in the vernacular; O Lord ! I have no other desire and have only the zeal for the war fought on the basis of righteousness.2491. (Ang 1133, Sri Dasam Granth Sahib Ji)

Guruji clearly clarifies that he is not attached to all the saints and religious people that appear in the stories I have translated, the only thing that he is attached and fond of is that of Dharam-Yudh, the war for the preservation of righteousness.

But in order to understand the importance of our own Gurbani, one needs to have other philosophies handy to compare it with so that we can get awareness of the real beauty of the Bani of our Gurus. That is why; Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj gave us the translations of the old religious philosophies for us to compare Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj’s Amrit bani with in order for us to really comprehend the true meaning of Gurbani. In the translation of Krishan Avtar, Guruji clearly states:

Guruji tells us explicitly that he not acknowledge the godly status given to these avtars, the only reason he has provided us these translations is so that a common man can know what exactly is written in Sanskrit in the other granths about the ways with which people in olden days used to meditate and the kind of practices they were involved in.

Baba Balwant Ji, the teacher who taught Gyani Maskeen Ji the rules of Gurbani grammer, was about 75 years old when Maskeen Ji saw him reading the “Kama Sutra”. He asked him with surprise the reason for reading such a book. Babaji smiled and said, “The kaam with which one is born, which remains with us in youth and till the time we die, one should try to understand it”. In that book, Vatsayan has explained how men and women go corrupt when this Kaam-Rass goes out of control.

Vatsayan writes about the misdeeds men do when they become hunters. When that text is translated by Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj for our knowledge, some have started beating their chests in protest and started saying that Sri Dasam Granth Sahib Ji is not the Bani of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib Ji Maharaj and thus, we refuse to read it. These ignorant fools should be told to first remove kaam from their lives and then dare question Guru Sahib ji Maharaj. It is kaam with which we are born, then how can we not listen to things related to it? Guru Nanak Dev ji Maharaj discusses it, Guru Arjan Dev Ji Maharaj discusses it, Bhagat Kabir Ji discusses it and elaborates on it in the most beautiful ways.

The imbeciles who protest are not willing to listen about kaam, rest they do not have problems with discussions and texts on anger, greed or ego. They do not realize that is KAAM that is the root energy of all the other vikaars, be it anger, greed, or desire. It is that very Kaam-Rass that becomes Naam-Rass and also gives birth to new lives. This concept of kaam is very core of all the concepts that are often discussed and lectured upon, yet that very root concept is frowned upon and objected to by ignorant Guru Nindaks.

One has to realise it is the misuse of excess Kaam-Rass that results in mental instability in many people. Maskeen Ji narrates a little story out of his own life: Once, out of curiosity, he visited a sanitarium in New York where a Singh close to him worked. These mentality instable people were all given different magazines to read in an attempt to bring some sense of sanity back to them. Maskeen Ji says he was shocked to see that one patient had scribbled crowns and jewels on the cover photos and speech bubbles were drawn which suggested that these people were dictating orders to each other. The doctor laughed it away but Maskeen Ji said, it is his arrogance that has disturbed his mental balance. Then there are other people who go insane because of excessive anger, and there are yet others who lose their mental composure due to greed. Guru Arjan Dev Ji says:

The Bhatts have mentioned Kundalini in Dhan Dhan Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj. This discourse will talk about the meaning of Kundalini and how it is awakened, as explained by Gurbani.

Kundalini, also known as the energy of life or the energy of the awakened, lies in a coiled form in the region just below the navel. The name ‘Kundalini’ comes from the coiled state of this energy. This energy sleeps in a coil just like a snake sleeps wrapped up. Snake Charmers often play ‘Been’ (a type of wind instrument) to awaken the coiled up snake. The snake ‘hears’ the sound of the been, wakes and raises its head upwards. The real energy of life is just like such a snake – it sleeps in a coil with its head downwards. When this energy is awakened by Jap and Tapp, it rises upwards, penetrates and crosses a row of 6 Chakras, finally reaching the ‘Agya Chakra’, the supreme state of conciousness and bliss. This Kundalini energy rises with naam rass, Ram rass, and if it starts going downwards, it is because of kaam rass. So, because of kaam rass, flow of life flows downwards, while its upward flow is all due to naam rass. It is this naam rass, the Waheguru Mantra, the Gurbani, that awakens the energy and makes it rise upwards.

The first chakra right above the navel is called the ‘Mool-Adhaar’. The second chakra above it is the ‘Sav-Dishtaan’. Above Sav-Dishtaan chakra, there lies the third chakra called the ‘Manipur’. The fourth chakra above it is called ‘Aahat-Anaahat’ chakra. When the awakned energy reaches the ‘Kanth’ and crosses it, the chakra at the Kanth is called ‘Vishudhh’. And the last chakra out of all the chakras is the ‘Agya Chakra’. These chakras can be thought of as the stages in the path of spirituality that the energy must cross in order to reach the supreme state of bliss.
There is a strong desire in human beings to achieve that supreme bliss. However, there is rass downwards, and there is rass upwards – there is rass for the form; and there is rass for the formless.

Just like water flows downwards automatically, human energy also automatically flows downwards. One does not need any motivation to become arrogant, greedy, kaami, dishonest; it happens automatically. But, efforts are required if one has the desire to be honest, content, patient, etc. Just as pressure needs to be applied to water to make it rise upwards, similarly certain ‘pressure’ is mandatory to make one rise from the base, and that sole pressure is Jap. Guruji describes it as:

From ages, our life energy has been sleeping. One often spends the entire lifetime sleeping in this slumber. When this energy rises up with the efforts of Jap, the desire of kaam is destroyed; one does not find pleasures in kaam rass anymore. This is because kaam rass lies below the energy base, while the energy has already risen above its base. Thus, kaam rass is destroyed when the energy rises up. But even though desires of kaam get destroyed, the energy has not reached the supreme state of bliss.
Those individuals, whose energy has not even risen from its base, the observation is that their kaami desires do not get diminished even after reaching a ripe old age.

Bhagat Trilochan Ji says that even at the old age, where have have turned white, eyes cannot see properly, the voice shakes with weakness, the desires of kaam keep churning in the empty, dry pot. There is only way to escape this desire, and that way is Jap.
If the energy goes down, it gives birth to human form; it it rises up, it gives birth to the formless within. If the energy goes down, it ends the human in dust; if it rises up, it merges the soul with Akal Purakh. A Person that has no desire for kaam left in him and finds no attraction in the physical form shows clear signs of the risen energy.

That person will see the formless in all humanity and nature – he will savour Akal Purakh in all the exreme objects of beauty. Otherwise, there is only the world of desires below the base of the energy. If one has not been able to rise up from the base, then even the visits and prayers said at religious places is solely to get worldly desires fulfilled. It is often observed that people sitting at the religious places are busy praying to that effect. Therefore, anyone who lives in a world of desires (kaamna) is a kaami.

ਤੁਮ ਕਹੀਅਤ ਹੌ ਜਗਤ ਗੁਰ ਸੁਆਮੀ ॥
thum keheeath ha jagath gur suaamee ||
You are called the Lord and Master, the Guru of the World.

Bhagat Ravidas Ji has made it clear – human desires have risen to extreme levels in the present age, and as a result, man has become extremely kaami. Prayer is meant to achieve Akal Purakh, not worldly objects. One cannot get the whole world with prayers, and without true prayers, one cannot find Nirankar.

The second chakra is the “Sav-Dishtaan”, which is above the base of the energy. With continuous Jap, an abhiyaasi’s energy rises up from the base and slowly but steadily penetrates and cross this second chakra. What is the sign that this chakra has been crossed? Such a person will have no fear of death, for he has risen above the fear of death altogether. Nobody can scare such a person with fears of death. Actually, anybody who threatens others with fears of death clearly shows the sign that he still is living below the level of second chakra.

Kabir Ji says, I’ve reached that world where I do not get scared, nor I scare anybody. Often, it is the individuals who have fear in themselves scare others. Guru Teg Bahadur Ji also describes the same signs of a person who has no fear in him.

When one’s energy crosses the Sav-Dsihtaan, the world of complete fearlessness starts. Guruji says:

ਡਰਪੈ ਧਰਤਿ ਅਕਾਸੁ ਨਖ੍ਯ੍ਯਤ੍ਰਾ ਸਿਰ ਊਪਰਿ ਅਮਰੁ ਕਰਾਰਾ ॥
ddarapai dhharath akaas nakhyathraa sir oopar amar karaaraa ||
The earth, the Akaashic ethers and the stars abide in the Fear of God. The almighty Order of the Lord is over the heads of all.

Guru Arjan Dev Ji says that, in a sublime way even the stars, planets, etc. are struck with fear, that is why they are in discipline. It is true one needs discipline in life to remain on the right path but a person who always lives in fear becomes paranoid. He always worries about health, loss of weath, death, lack of respect, etc. On the other hand, those who have crossed the second chakra, only fear God and no one else. That fear is out of pure love and respect for God and desire to listen to Akal Purakh’s word grows within.

Just fire removes all impurities and purifies gold, similarly, fear of God puts all evil desire within to rest. So, with regular and continuous Jap, one raises the energy above to the destination of ‘Agya Chakra’ where God is realised. This Agya Chakra is in the head, which makes it clear that one will have to raise the energy upwards.
Often, it is observed that although water under pressure rises up, when the pressure finishes, the forces of gravity drag the risen water down again. Similarly, a person raises himself above the base with good sangat and guidance of religious scriptures, but the worldly attraction starts dragging him down again.

Thus, there is an attraction for both directions – the materials and Akal Purakh. If one looks at the universe, all the elements live in mutual attraction. Sun, planets, etc. are not suspended by any wires nor supported by any pillars. Similarly, when we look at the family members, they also exist in mutual attraction. Husband has an attraction for the wife and vica-versa, children have a pull towards parents and parents live in the affection of their children. Sometimes, it is seen that a star that breaks this attraction falls and gets destroyed; it ceases to exist. Similarly, when the mutual attraction finishes between husband and wife, children and parents, they start breaking and falling apart. Thus, this entire universe lives in attraction. Now, on one hand, there is attraction for Akal Purakh.
The day one’s energy level rises and reaches the boundaries of God, it becomes impossible to bring him down. For example – it is said that the perimeters of earth’s atmosphere are approximately 300 miles in radius. Any object that leaves that radius will be free from earth’s gravity and then earth will not be able to pull it back down. Similarly, there is a limit to the attraction for worldly objects. When one sincerely recites God’s name and meditates, he crosses that boundary where no importance remains for objects or beauty; things that could pull him down – the state of conciousness rises beyond controls of other factors.
With constant Jap, the energy of an abhiyaasi rises up further and reaches the third chakra, the ‘Manipur’ – the world of thoughts. When this chakra is crossed, the chattering thoughts die down, the futile running of the mind stops and one is blessed with a peaceful state. Journey to the next level begins instead, which is full of emotions.
Religious scholars say there are three type of ‘worlds’ in which one exists: The world beyond intellect, the world below intellect and the world of intellect. The world below the intellect is the world of animals; such a world does not have any noisy thought process. That is why, animals have remained almost the same since ages, they have not shown any signs of development. The reason is that they just cannot think at all. Then, life in the world of intellect is the human life. Here, civilizations develop, social rules are born, politics evolves. Then, there is yet another world that is beyond the reach of reasoning. That world is a world full of emotions. Dr. Mohd. Iqbal explains this to the man of logic:

He says, cross the boundaries of reason and logic, for these are mere tools of guidance. Try to reach the destination, do not revolve around the lamp. But those who are revolving around it are at least humans; what about those who do not have the lamp lighted at all? Those are still living the lives of animals. And then there are those who have crossed and went beyond the realms of intellect; they are the dervishes and farishtas as they have become one with Akal Purakh. Since such people do not get along with the material ideologies of humans, they are often mistaken as madmen. People living below and far beyond the levels of intellect often appear to be crazy. The former will talk absolute nonsense, which goes below the feet, and the latter talks about things that go above the head.
One can observe the animals – they eat, reproduce, take care of their young ones for a while; that is their life. Animals never get bored, they never go mad. The only animals that may go mad are the ones that are made to live in the company of humans. The reason they do not get bored is because animals have no brains to think; and one has to think to get impatient, bored or even mad. Thus, all the intellectual people in this world are also the most impatient, dissatisfied. Ghalib says:

Therefore, impatience, anxiety, is a clear sign that a person is thinking too much. There are only two solutions to escape this: Either that person falls below the levels of intellect, or rises and transcends the limits of intelligence. It is easier to fall down, and that is why most intellectuals start consuming alcohol and end up falling into the world of animals. The other way is the way of the Gurbani – to rise above the levels of intellect. The only thing is, this ‘wine’ is not sold in shops, it has to be made by own self. Guru Nanak Dev Ji says in Janam Saakhi:

‘Naam Khumari Nanaka Charri Rahe Din Raat’

It is often said that the journey to God starts where the limits of intellect and logic finish. That is why, God can never be realised nor felt by a person confined in the realms of logic and reasoning.